LIAM: I happen to look up and I see my pool instructor Thorne, “I hope that you didn’t want to get in on the archery tournament, because it’s full.” I say to him “No, no archery for me, I’m just here to watch, I enjoy watching competition in most all of its forms.” “Do you know when you are leaving?” “We will be heading out after lunch tomorrow.” “Think I could get one more lesson in before you go?” “We should be able to manage that for you.” Thanks.” He just nods his head and starts walking to the archery range. Then I link dad. “I have some more money that needs to go into the safe.” “Meet me at my office.” I close the link. And head up to his office with the cash so he could put it in the safe, I fore got to have someone verify the amount, oh well. We all know that 10 x 24 is $240.00 and as long as that is what gets paid out, I think we should be good. I head to the archery range after getting the money in the safe and set up a space so that I can watch the shooting. I asked Alpha Camron to be an impartial guest judge. I would like to say it could be me but there are too many people from my own pack involved in this, so it’s got to be someone else. He agreed to do it. I am rechecking the list, and I notice my mistake, it’s three people shooting, oh well I will have to adjust on the fly.
KESKA: I am looking around at the crowd, there are so many people here, my nerves are on edge. I’m not used to so many people watching me. I see Nana, Uncle Carson, and Beta Calen standing together, and I wave at them. They wave back “Good luck sweetie. Nana links me. I smile and give her the thumbs up. “You got this Keska, kick their butts.” Uncle Carson sends to me. I just look at him, he has never used that kind of language before. He just gives me the thumbs up. I look at Mackie “I’m not going to lie, I’m nervous.” “Me to, it’s one thing when it’s just us shooting, but not in front of all these people.” I nod. Just then both Dutch and Trever appear out of nowhere and wrap us both up. “Don’t worry love, you got this, you will be just fine, and you will do great.” I relax in his arms, and I can feel the tension leave my shoulders. I nod my head at him. I can feel Mackie relax too, thanks to Dutch.
LIAM: I didn’t realize that Kent had a speaker system for the range, this is going to make calling the contestants up to shoot and announcing the winners of each round a breeze. Yes! I call up Link, Marcus, and Vance to take their places, “we are shooting for accuracy, the target distance is 30’ each contestant will get two practice shots, and then you will shoot three arrows best 2 out of 3 bullseyes.” I tell them. They each pick the bow they want to use, and take their places, they take their practice shots, once those have been retrieved, they shoot their three arrows Link hits three of three, Marcus hits close to the bullseye, but nothing in the center, and Vance hits the bullseye once. So, we lose Marcus and Vance in one round, Link moves forward. Next up is Simone, Janica, and Richard, both Simone and Janica advance, next up is Mitchell, Rick, Star. Mitchel hits all three bullseyes, Star only hits one, so we lose both Rick and Star. Next up is Mackie, Simon, Blane, Mackie hits all three bullseyes, Blane hits two, Mackie and Blane advance. Next up is Josh, Keska, Rex, Kes hits all three bullseyes, Rex hits two so we lose Josh on that round. Next up is Colton, Prince Trent, Carl, Trent hits all three bullseyes, Colton hits One. Prince Trent advances and we lose Colton and Carl. Next up is Daren, Mike, and John, Daren hits two bullseyes, John hits one, Daren advances we lose Mike and John. Next up is Steve, Larry, Darrell, both Steve and Darrell hit two bullseyes, so they both advance. This round it gets harder, the targets get moved back 10’, so now the distance is 40’ but it’s still best 2 out of 3 arrows advance. Once the targets get set, I call the line up, Link, Janica, Mitchell, we lose Janica on this one. Next is Mackie, Keska, Trent, both Mackie and Kes land all three, and Tren lands two so they all advance. Then it’s Darrell and Steve. Darrell lands two and we lose Steve. Again, the targets get moved back another 10’ so now they are shooting at 50’, first up is Link, Mitchell and Mackie, Mitchell land all three, and so does Mackie, Link lands one. Next up is Keska Trent and Darrell, Keska lands all three, Trent lands one Keska moves on. It’s down to Mitchell, Mackie, and Kes, this is going to be a battel. Targets get moved back another 10’, the three of them shake hands and take their places. Mackie lands two, Mitchell and Kes land three. Targets get moved, and the three of them take their places, this time we lose Mackie, we are now at 80’ and down to Mitchell and Kes. I can hear some of the others around me making and taking bets on who’s going to win this competition, If I could, I would put my money on Kes, even though she keeps saying Mitchell is the best, I haven’t seen him on the range in a long time, and Kes and Mackie are here at least 2 if not 3 times a week. I see Mitch go over and he is talking to Kes. I wonder what that is about.
KESKA: This competition has been fun to watch, to see where everyone’s skill set is. But I am not going to lie, I am nervous as all get out, it’s down to Mitch and myself, I use to watch him, he was the one to inspire me to take up archery. It was something that was mine, that the twins couldn’t take away from me, or ruin, with their snide comments, because they never came out here. Mitch comes up to me. “Hey Kes, Good luck, and don’t you dare throw this competition, I want to see just where you are at. So, shoot your best. You understand me.” I nod my head at him. “Can I give you a hug?” “Yes, kiddo you can give me a hug.” I wrap my arms around him and just hold him for a bit, he hugs me back, but we both hear a growl from behind us. I turn and see Trever, “Stop, he isn’t hurting me, and it’s just a thank you hug.” I tell Trever “No worries, prince, I am mated.” Mitchell tell him as well, as he lets go of me, and Trever takes his place, and wraps his arms around me. Then Liam calls us to our places to take what is hopefully our last round of shots, because I for one, am getting tired. And it’s got to be getting close to dinner.
LIAM: I call Mitch and Kes forward to take their places. I announce the distance to the audience. Then I have them shoot. Kes lands all three, and Mitch lands 2 and that ends the competition with Kes winning the whole thing. I can hear a few grumbles coming from the crowd, but I am ecstatic. I run up to her and just wrap my arms around her, “See I knew you could do it.” I tell her.
